The Prompt:

One Strong Belief by Buster Benson

It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude. – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

The world is powered by passionate people, powerful ideas, and fearless action. What’s one strong belief you possess that isn’t shared by your closest friends or family? What inspires this belief, and what have you done to actively live it?

I have to admit this one is very hard for me to answer. Not because I didn’t have any strong belief in something, it’s just it hard to put it up for everyone to read. Although I guess this was what the core of this challenge after all. Here goes then:

I believe in spirituality being the core of my life. I believe everyone needs some sort of spiritual balance in order to live a healthy and fulfilling life. What I do not believe anymore is the absolute connection between religion and spirituality. While religion could be a way to achieve spirituality, there is no way it’s the only way.

I don’t believe anymore in the idea of one true religion, of a certain way for everyone. Who are we to judge if a certain person will go to heaven or hell just because of his/her belief? We don’t even know for sure if there is an afterlife (and by ‘sure’ I meant either proof, like we 2+2=4; or a strong feeling, like love).

What inspired me here is what I’ve seen now, here. I’ve moved to Germany where there are more cultural and belief diversity (I considered atheism as a belief too, even if it meant you believe in nothing). I’ve seen and experience that goodness is definitely in everyone regardless of their belief, and vice versa.

The way I see it, I’m actively living it now. I also tried to stand up more for my belief. I’m still threading my way through it. I did not want to berate anyone for his/her belief either. Still have a lot to learn.